第 4 节
作者:      更新:2022-11-28 19:11      字数:7617
  uplifting; as though in preparation or anticipation of the miracle。
  All eyes were turned upon the two central figures。 The priest realized
  the crucial moment; felt his power tottering; opened his mouth in
  denunciation; but fled backward before the truculent advance; upraised
  fist; and flashing eyes; of Mackenzie。 He sneered and resumed。
  Was I stricken dead? Did the lightning burn me? Did the stars fall
  from the sky and crush me? Pish! I have done with the dog。 Now will
  I tell you of my people; who are the mightiest of all the peoples; who
  rule in all the lands。 At first we hunt as I hunt; alone。 After that
  we hunt in packs; and at last; like the cariboo…run; we sweep across
  all the land。 Those whom we take into our lodges live; those who
  will not come die。 Zarinska is a comely maiden; full and strong; fit
  to become the mother of Wolves。 Though I die; such shall she become;
  for my brothers are many; and they will follow the scent of my dogs。
  Listen to the Law of the Wolf: Whoso taketh the life of one Wolf;
  the forfeit shall ten of his people pay。 In many lands has the price
  been paid; in many lands shall it yet be paid。
  'Now will I deal with the Fox and the Bear。 It seems they have
  cast eyes upon the maiden。 So? Behold; I have bought her!
  Thling…Tinneh leans upon the rifle; the goods of purchase are by his
  fire。 Yet will I be fair to the young men。 To the Fox; whose tongue is
  dry with many words; will I give of tobacco five long plugs。 Thus will
  his mouth be wetted that he may make much noise in the council。 But to
  the Bear; of whom I am well proud; will I give of blankets two; of
  flour; twenty cups; of tobacco; double that of the Fox; and if he fare
  with me over the Mountains of the East; then will I give him a
  rifle; mate to Thling…Tinneh's。 If not? Good! The Wolf is weary of
  speech。 Yet once again will he say the Law: Whoso taketh the life of
  one Wolf; the forfeit shall ten of his people pay。'
  Mackenzie smiled as he stepped back to his old position; but at
  heart he was full of trouble。 The night was yet dark。 The girl came to
  his side; and he listened closely as she told of the Bear's
  battle…tricks with the knife。
  The decision was for war。 In a trice; scores of moccasins were
  widening the space of beaten snow by the fire。 There was much
  chatter about the seeming defeat of the Shaman; some averred he had
  but withheld his power; while others conned past events and agreed
  with the Wolf。 The Bear came to the center of the battle…ground; a
  long naked hunting…knife of Russian make in his hand。 The Fox called
  attention to Mackenzie's revolvers; so he stripped his belt;
  buckling it about Zarinska; into whose hands he also entrusted his
  rifle。 She shook her head that she could not shoot;… small chance
  had a woman to handle such precious things。
  'Then; if danger come by my back; cry aloud; 〃My husband!〃 No; thus;
  〃My husband!〃'
  He laughed as she repeated it; pinched her cheek; and reentered
  the circle。 Not only in reach and stature had the Bear the advantage
  of him; but his blade was longer by a good two inches。 'Scruff'
  Mackenzie had looked into the eyes of men before; and he knew it was a
  man who stood against him; yet he quickened to the glint of light on
  the steel; to the dominant pulse of his race。
  Time and again he was forced to the edge of the fire or the deep
  snow; and time and again; with the foot tactics of the pugilist; he
  worked back to the center。 Not a voice was lifted in encouragement;
  while his antagonist was heartened with applause; suggestions; and
  warnings。 But his teeth only shut the tighter as the knives clashed
  together; and he thrust or eluded with a coolness born of conscious
  strength。 At first he felt compassion for his enemy; but this fled
  before the primal instinct of life; which in turn gave way to the lust
  of slaughter。 The ten thousand years of culture fell from him; and
  he was a cave…dweller; doing battle for his female。
  Twice he pricked the Bear; getting away unscathed; but the third
  time caught; and to save himself; free hands closed on fighting hands;
  and they came together。 Then did he realize the tremendous strength of
  his opponent。 His muscles were knotted in painful lumps; and cords and
  tendons threatened to snap with the strain; yet nearer and nearer came
  the Russian steel。 He tried to break away; but only weakened
  himself。 The fur…clad circle closed in; certain of and anxious to
  see the final stroke。 But with wrestler's trick; swinging partly to
  the side; he struck at his adversary with his head。 Involuntarily
  the Bear leaned back; disturbing his center of gravity。 Simultaneous
  with this; Mackenzie tripped properly and threw his whole weight
  forward; hurling him clear through the circle into the deep snow。
  The Bear floundered out and came back full tilt。
  'O my husband!' Zarinska's voice rang out; vibrant with danger。
  To the twang of a bow…string; Mackenzie swept low to the ground; and
  a bone…barbed arrow passed over him into the breast of the Bear; whose
  momentum carried him over his crouching foe。 The next instant
  Mackenzie was up and about。 The bear lay motionless; but across the
  fire was the Shaman; drawing a second arrow。
  Mackenzie's knife leaped short in the air。 He caught the heavy blade
  by the point。 There was a flash of light as it spanned the fire。
  Then the Shaman; the hilt alone appearing without his throat; swayed
  and pitched forward into the glowing embers。
  Click! Click!… the Fox had possessed himself of Thling…Tinneh's
  rifle and was vainly trying to throw a shell into place。 But he
  dropped it at the sound of Mackenzie's laughter。
  'So the Fox has not learned the way of the plaything? He is yet a
  woman。 Come! Bring it; that I may show thee!'
  The Fox hesitated。
  'Come; I say!'
  He slouched forward like a beaten cur。
  'Thus; and thus; so the thing is done。' A shell flew into place
  and the trigger was at cock as Mackenzie brought it to shoulder。
  'The Fox has said great deeds were afoot this night; and he spoke
  true。 There have been great deeds; yet least among them were those
  of the Fox。 Is he still intent to take Zarinska to his lodge? Is he
  minded to tread the trail already broken by the Shaman and the Bear?
  No? Good!'
  Mackenzie turned contemptuously and drew his knife from the priest's
  throat。
  'Are any of the young men so minded? If so; the Wolf will take
  them by two and three till none are left。 No? Good! Thling…Tinneh; I
  now give thee this rifle a second time。 If; in the days to come;
  thou shouldst journey to the Country of the Yukon; know thou that
  there shall always be a place and much food by the fire of the Wolf。
  The night is now passing into the day。 I go; but I may come again。 And
  for the last time; remember the Law of the Wolf!'
  He was supernatural in their sight as he rejoined Zarinska。 She took
  her place at the head of the team; and the dogs swung into motion。 A
  few moments later they were swallowed up by the ghostly forest。 Till
  now Mackenzie had waited; he slipped into his snow…shoes to follow。
  'Has the Wolf forgotten the five long plugs?'
  Mackenzie turned upon the Fox angrily; then the humor of it struck
  him。
  'I will give thee one short plug。'
  'As the Wolf sees fit;' meekly responded the Fox; stretching out his
  hand。